LAS CRUCES — Whatever you do, don't break or lose your remote control and don't run out of antiacids.

You're going to need both today.

This is Super Bowl Sunday, for crying out loud, and if you're like the majority of your national brethren, you'll watch the Super Bowl — or you'll at least be at a gathering where the game is on the television, whether you are more interested in the game or the commercials or just socializing. You'll also be surrounded by goodies.

Nearly 180 million people are expected to tune into the big game and they will devour 1.23 billion — yes with a 'B' — chicken wings, as well as tons of guacamole and a whole assortment of chips, dips, snacks and beverages.

"Those stats make us Americans sound like gluttons," Irma Guzman said on the Sun-News Facebook page.

Be that as it may, the Super Bowl has become our most celebrated non-official holiday and is the second biggest day for grilling, trailing just the Fourth of July.

Nathalie Fike is preparing for the big day.

"We are hosting a Super Bowl party and it is our tradition to have a big pot or two of chili with the fixings for the game," she said.

Christina Melendrez Castillo has a favorite food as well.

"I always make my cheeseburger dip," she said. "By the end of the game, it's always gone."

As for spending in general, the National Retail Federation reports that people have bought everything from decorations to apparel to even furniture.

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In fact, millions of people use the Super Bowl as a good excuse to pick up a brand-new television. According to an NRF survey, of households that plan to watch the game, about 7 percent of them will do so with a new TV.

"With planned viewership rising this year, it appears that an increasing number of people are finding Super Bowl Sunday the perfect excuse to get together, show off that new TV, try a new recipe or simply shake off the winter blues for a night," said Pam Goodfellow, director of BIGinsight Consumer Insights, which conducted the survey for the NRF.

The survey found 39.4 million people will throw a party, and another 59.9 million will attend a party. More than 10.1 million people will watch the game at a restaurant or a bar.

Football, food and socializing are not the only reasons people celebrate Super Bowl Sunday. More than 75 percent of viewers say they see the commercials as entertainment. The NRF reports that, overall, when asked what they thought was the most important part of the Super Bowl, one in four people said it is the commercials. Close to 19 percent of people said gathering with friends is the most important aspect, while nearly half said the actual game is the most important.

"Gathering with friends and family for the Super Bowl is an American tradition," said NRF Senior Vice President Bill Thorne. "As one of the biggest weekends of the year for sports fanatics, we expect to see a variety of promotions in the coming days surrounding appetizers and drinks at restaurants, football décor, athletic apparel and, of course, new TVs."

Brook Stockberger may be reached at 575-541-5457; follow him on Twitter @Bstockberger

Chicken Wings

— More than 1.23 billion wings will be eaten on Super Bowl Sunday. If they were laid end to end, they would stretch from San Francisco to Baltimore 27 times.

— National Chicken Council

Guacamole

— In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, 12 million pounds of avocados will be purchased. On Super Bowl Sunday, Americans will consume 8 million pounds of guacamole.

— California Avocado Commission

Grilled food

— Super Bowl Sunday is the second-biggest grilling day of the year, behind the Fourth of July. One in 10 Americans will serve or eat some kind of grilled food, including hot dogs, hamburgers, bratwurst and steak